Karen Swan – författare

Bakom en låst dörr i en dammig Parisvåning vilar en konstsamling som varit gömd i årtionden. När Flora, en driven konstagent från London, skickas till Frankrike för att värdera målningarna, inser hon snabbt att hon snubblat över något större än bara konst.

Målningarnas ursprung är höljt i dunkel och ägarfamiljen Vermeil gör allt för att hålla sanningen begravd. Framför allt sonen, den charmige och outgrundlige Xavier, tycks fast besluten att hålla Flora borta från familjens angelägenheter, men vad är det egentligen de försöker dölja – och hur långt är de villiga att gå för att skydda hemligheten?

Mellan eleganta middagar i Antibes och överdådiga fester i Paris, dras Flora djupare in i ett nät av lögner, svek och gamla synder.

"Destination: kärlek" är en serie som tar läsaren till exotiska platser och bjuder på passion, dramatik och romantik. Varje bok lockar med nya miljöer, nya möten – och kärlek som förändrar allt.

I ett Rom fullt av hetta och hemligheter för ett oöppnat brev av en slump samman turistguiden Francesca och den gåtfulla grevinnan Elena, en kvinna vars liv en gång sjöd av lyx, passion och förbjuden kärlek. Kvinnorna fattar tycke för varandra och Francesca börjar skriva på Elenas memoarer, men ju mer hon får veta om Elenas storhetstid, desto starkare växer sig misstanken att allt inte är så sagolikt som grevinnan vill minnas. Särskilt den mörke, mystiske sonen, Giotto, tycks väldigt angelägen om att Francesca inte ska komma för nära.

När så en diamantring med mytomspunnen bakgrund dyker upp i en glömd tunnel under stadens gator blir faran plötsligt verklig. Francesca inser att varje nytt avslöjande binder henne hårdare till Elenas historia – och till den sanning som någon gjort allt för att gömma.

Destination: Kärlek är en serie som tar läsaren till exotiska platser och bjuder på passion, dramatik och romantik. Varje bok lockar med nya miljöer, nya möten – och kärlek som förändrar allt.

A newly divorced woman travels the world to find herself in a “glamour-filled read [that will] strike a chord with anyone who’s been betrayed” (Glamour, UK).

What do you do when the man you pledged your life to breaks your heart and shatters your dreams? You pack your bags and travel the big, wide world to find your destiny—and your true love . . .

Ten years ago, a young and naïve Cassie married her first serious boyfriend, believing he would be with her forever. Now her marriage is in tatters and Cassie has no career or home of her own. Though she feels betrayed and confused, Cassie isn''t giving up. She''s going to take control of her life. But first she has to find out where she belongs . . . and who she wants to be.

Over the course of one year, Cassie leaves her sheltered life in rural Scotland to stay with her best friends living in the most glamorous cities in the world: New York, Paris, and London. Exchanging comfort food and mousy hair for a low-carb diet and a gorgeous new look, Cassie tries each city on for size as she searches for the life she''s meant to have . . . and the man she''s meant to love.

“Funny, clever and superbly spun this is a cut above most contemporary romances. A hugely uplifting feel-good read.” -Candis magazine (UK)

In this glittering tale of forgotten treasures and long-held secrets, international bestseller Karen Swan explores one woman’s journey to discovering the truth behind an abandoned apartment and a family whose mysteries may be better left undiscovered.

When high-powered fine art agent Flora Sykes is called in to assess objets d’art in a Paris apartment that has been abandoned since WWII, she is skeptical at first—until she discovers that the treasure trove of paintings is myriad…and priceless. The powerful Vermeil family to whom they belong is eager to learn more and asks Flora to trace the history of each painting.

Despite a shocking announcement that has left her own family reeling, Flora finds herself thrown into the glamorous world of the Vermeils. But she soon realizes there is more to this project than first appears. As she researches the provenance of their prize Renoir, she uncovers a scandal surrounding the painting—and a secret that goes to the very heart of the family. The fallout will place Flora in the eye of a storm that carries her from London to Vienna to the glittering coast of Provence.

Xavier Vermeil, the brusque scion of the family, is determined to separate Flora from his family''s affairs in spite of their powerful attraction to one another. Just what are the secrets he is desperately trying to hide? And what price is Flora willing to pay to uncover the devastating truth…?

“The Paris Secret had me from the moment I started reading. Filled with a smart and sympathetic protagonist, a touch of romance, a smidgen of history, plenty of intrigue and suspense galore.”—Diane Chamberlain, internationally bestselling author of The Midwife''s Confession

In this glittering tale of forgotten treasures and long-held secrets, international bestseller Karen Swan explores one woman’s journey to discovering the truth behind an abandoned apartment and a family whose mysteries may be better left undiscovered.

When high-powered fine art agent Flora Sykes is called in to assess objets d’art in a Paris apartment that has been abandoned since WWII, she is skeptical at first—until she discovers that the treasure trove of paintings is myriad…and priceless. The powerful Vermeil family to whom they belong is eager to learn more and asks Flora to trace the history of each painting.

Despite a shocking announcement that has left her own family reeling, Flora finds herself thrown into the glamorous world of the Vermeils. But she soon realizes there is more to this project than first appears. As she researches the provenance of their prize Renoir, she uncovers a scandal surrounding the painting—and a secret that goes to the very heart of the family. The fallout will place Flora in the eye of a storm that carries her from London to Vienna to the glittering coast of Provence.

Xavier Vermeil, the brusque scion of the family, is determined to separate Flora from his family''s affairs in spite of their powerful attraction to one another. Just what are the secrets he is desperately trying to hide? And what price is Flora willing to pay to uncover the devastating truth…?

“The Paris Secret had me from the moment I started reading. Filled with a smart and sympathetic protagonist, a touch of romance, a smidgen of history, plenty of intrigue and suspense galore.”—Diane Chamberlain, internationally bestselling author of The Midwife''s Confession

If you love Lucinda Riley and Santa Montefiore, don't miss this sweeping and escapist new summer romance - preorder now!'Transported me to Italy . . . very evocative' Fern Britton, Sunday Times bestsellerEvery summer tells a story 1957: The summer of innocenceAmongst the lemon trees, Rafaella Parisi impatiently waits for the summer visitors to arrive in her small fishing village on the coast of Puglia. She may be dating Fon Gianelli, but there is one person she longs to see: Cosimo - son of the wealthy Franchetti family.1958: The summer everything changedAfter a devastating accident at the lavish Franchetti villa, Rafa makes a vow that changes the course of all their futures...1961: The summer they met againAnd when Rafa and Cosi's lives collide, Rafa must decide if she's willing to risk the life she has built for the future she might have had...Readers LOVE Karen Swan'I utterly consumed this book as quickly as it consumed me!' 'It's been a long time since I so thoroughly enjoyed a novel with the turn of every page' 'A fabulous book, almost impossible to put down' 'Reading this novel was a joy!'

Published in Association with 2020 AECT Division of Distance Learning Book AwardSocial presence continues to emerge as a key factor for successful online and blended learning experiences. It is commonly described as the degree to which online participants feel connected to one another. Understanding social presence—with its critical connections to community-building, retention, and learning outcomes—allows faculty and instructional designers to better support and engage students. This volume, Social Presence in Online Learning, addresses the evolution of social presence with three distinct perspectives, outlines the relevant research, and focuses on practical strategies that can immediately impact the teaching and learning experience. These strategies include creating connections to build community, applying content to authentic situations, integrating a careful mix of tools and media, leveraging reflective and interactive opportunities, providing early and continuous feedback, designing with assessment in mind, and encouraging change in small increments. Because student satisfaction and motivation plays a key role in retention rates and because increased social presence often leads to enriched learning experiences, it is advantageous to mindfully integrate social presence into learning environments.Social Presence in Online Learning brings together eminent scholars in the field to distinguish among three different perspectives of social presence and to address how these viewpoints immediately inform practice. This important volume: • Provides an overview of the evolution of social presence, key findings from social presence research, and practical strategies that can improve the online and blended learning experience• Differentiates three distinct perspectives on social presence and explains the ideas and models that inform these perspectives• Explores specific ways in which social presence relates to course satisfaction, retention, and outcomes• Offers practical implications and ready-to-use techniques that are applicable to multiple disciplines• Introduces current research on social presence by prominent researchers in the field with direct inferences to the practice of online and blended learning • Looks at future directions for social presenceSocial Presence in Online Learning is appropriate for practitioners, researchers and academics involved in any level of online learning program design, course design, instruction, support, and leadership as well as for graduate students studying educational technology, technology-enhanced learning, and online and blended learning. It brings together multiple perspectives on social presence from the most influential scholars in the field to help shape the future of online and blended learning.

Published in Association with 2020 AECT Division of Distance Learning Book AwardSocial presence continues to emerge as a key factor for successful online and blended learning experiences. It is commonly described as the degree to which online participants feel connected to one another. Understanding social presence—with its critical connections to community-building, retention, and learning outcomes—allows faculty and instructional designers to better support and engage students. This volume, Social Presence in Online Learning, addresses the evolution of social presence with three distinct perspectives, outlines the relevant research, and focuses on practical strategies that can immediately impact the teaching and learning experience. These strategies include creating connections to build community, applying content to authentic situations, integrating a careful mix of tools and media, leveraging reflective and interactive opportunities, providing early and continuous feedback, designing with assessment in mind, and encouraging change in small increments. Because student satisfaction and motivation plays a key role in retention rates and because increased social presence often leads to enriched learning experiences, it is advantageous to mindfully integrate social presence into learning environments.Social Presence in Online Learning brings together eminent scholars in the field to distinguish among three different perspectives of social presence and to address how these viewpoints immediately inform practice. This important volume: • Provides an overview of the evolution of social presence, key findings from social presence research, and practical strategies that can improve the online and blended learning experience• Differentiates three distinct perspectives on social presence and explains the ideas and models that inform these perspectives• Explores specific ways in which social presence relates to course satisfaction, retention, and outcomes• Offers practical implications and ready-to-use techniques that are applicable to multiple disciplines• Introduces current research on social presence by prominent researchers in the field with direct inferences to the practice of online and blended learning • Looks at future directions for social presenceSocial Presence in Online Learning is appropriate for practitioners, researchers and academics involved in any level of online learning program design, course design, instruction, support, and leadership as well as for graduate students studying educational technology, technology-enhanced learning, and online and blended learning. It brings together multiple perspectives on social presence from the most influential scholars in the field to help shape the future of online and blended learning.